Chapter 97: A Heavy Heart
Wen Nuan Nuan and the other four had long since discussed their travel plans.
Even if Leng Xiao weren’t taking the imperial exams, the Leng Family wouldn’t travel with the villagers. Firstly, a large group would attract unwanted attention and make food arrangements inconvenient. Secondly, they had a horse carriage, so their pace would differ. Moreover, with the village chief leading the villagers, the complex and entangled interpersonal relationships within the village made traveling alone much more peaceful.
However, these reasons couldn’t be openly stated in front of Auntie Zhu and Auntie Jiang. Wen Nuan Nuan could tell they meant well, sincerely concerned for their welfare. She asked gently, “Have you decided on your route?”
Auntie Zhu sighed, “Not yet. The villagers have two ideas. One is to head to the fertile lands of Jiangnan, saying there are plenty of fields, rivers, and water there, so we wouldn’t have to rely on hunting for survival anymore. The other says we don’t know how to farm at all, and which prefecture in Jiangnan would be willing to resettle refugees? It would be better to go directly to Jingcheng, the emperor’s feet—surely they wouldn’t let us starve to death! There’s no conclusion yet, so the village chief says we should wait a bit longer. If it rains, that would be even better.” Then they wouldn’t have to flee everywhere; after all, no place on the road could compare to home.
“Ah, we’d also like to travel with you. After all, having more people on the road means looking out for each other, right? But my husband still needs to go to Ruzhou for the exams. Whether you’re heading to Jiangnan or Jingcheng, it’s not on the way!” Wen Nuan Nuan sighed, feigning helplessness.
“My husband went to the city to buy grain and heard from the shopkeeper that Ruzhou is also suffering from drought! Even if you make it there, life will be tough. What will you do without food or water? Listen to me, Auntie, just skip the exams. Staying alive is what matters. Flee to a place with water first. The exams are held every three years—there will be plenty of opportunities later.”
“My husband wants to give it a try. The world is chaotic now; it’s the same wherever you go. Might as well take a chance in Ruzhou.” Wen Nuan Nuan adopted the demeanor of someone whose husband had the final say.
Auntie Zhu and Auntie Jiang immediately understood. For such a major decision, how could a woman have the final say? They stopped trying to persuade Wen Nuan Nuan.
After a moment of silence, Auntie Zhu changed the subject. “Speaking of grain, the prices have skyrocketed! Thankfully, you asked me to make clothes for you before the New Year, which earned me some silver. Last year, there was little rain, and I was afraid this year would also be dry, so I didn’t dare spend the money on fabric for new clothes. Instead, I bought black flour and corn to stockpile. Back then, black flour was four or five wen per jin, and corn was eight or nine wen per jin—I even thought that was expensive. The day before yesterday, my husband went to the grain shop to ask. Guess how much it is now? Black flour has risen to a full nine wen per jin! Corn has shot up to eighteen wen per jin! My husband didn’t even dare ask the price of refined rice or white flour.”
“Same with my family. In the village, anyone with savings bought some coarse rice or black flour to stockpile.
Before the New Year, there was little snow. The game we hunted—we didn’t keep any meat, not even the fur. We sold everything in the city to exchange for food to stockpile, not daring to eat any of it. Along with the dried wild vegetables from this year, we can barely fill our stomachs. At least we haven’t reached the point of selling our children like some in the village.” Auntie Jiang shuddered with fear, grateful they had also stockpiled some food before the New Year. If they had nothing, she truly didn’t know how they would survive now.
Leng Tian and Leng Yun, who had been standing quietly nearby listening, looked up in surprise. Leng Tian, more impatient by nature, quickly asked, “People in the village are already selling their children?”
“You all still don’t know? It’s the Wang family. Their eldest daughter was sold two months ago, and just a few days ago, they sold their second daughter too. They said it’s better to sell now while the drought isn’t severe yet, so they can get more silver. If they wait too long, they won’t even have a place to sell them.” When mentioning the eldest and second daughters, Aunt Jiang’s face showed pity.
“That family truly has no conscience! Last year, with less rainfall, all of us farmers relying on the weather knew there might be a drought this year. Everyone started early, not daring to eat the game they hunted, trading it for coarse black flour and rice to stock up. But their family? They said they needed to nourish their son’s health. Not only did they mooch off others more aggressively, but they also ate most of the game they hunted themselves. They thought they could just go into the mountains to hunt and sell for silver come spring. But now, with no rain for months, all the wild animals have retreated deep into the mountains. And deep in the mountains, there’s the white tiger—who dares go further in? That’s like throwing your life away!” Auntie Zhu’s face was clearly filled with anger as she spoke bitterly.
Wen Nuan Nuan thought this was a case of reaping what they sowed. Always thinking about taking advantage of others, never about earning their own keep. Even when others warned them early about the disaster, they didn’t listen. As soon as they couldn’t take advantage or had nothing left to take, they thought of selling their daughters. She comforted them, saying, “Maybe the eldest and second daughters will have a more comfortable life away from their family. Thankfully, the Wang family will flee the famine in a few days, so they won’t be able to affect the girls’ own small families. If the two of them manage their own households well, their lives will only get better.”
Although she comforted Aunt Jiang and the others this way, Wen Nuan Nuan knew deep down that the harm caused by one’s birth family could be immense.
“What small families? The Wang family sold both girls into brothels! That’s why people in the village say they have no conscience behind their backs. For a few extra taels of silver, they truly didn’t care a bit about their own children!” Auntie Zhu’s voice choked up, her eyes reddening as she spoke.
Wen Nuan Nuan’s expression suddenly froze. Her lips parted as if to say something, but no sound came out for a long time.
This was the first time she had truly witnessed the ugliness of human nature in the face of disaster!
Today was only the second day of the sixth month. Even without the drought, corn and millet wouldn’t mature until the eighth or ninth month. Yet the Wang family had been selling their daughters since two months ago—and into such places. They truly didn’t deserve to be called parents!
“The Wang family even boasted everywhere that they sold their two daughters for twenty taels of silver! They said they had connections and urged us to sell early too. My own daughter these days doesn’t even dare drink too much of the wild vegetable porridge at home, afraid that if she drinks too much, we’ll sell her.”
Wen Nuan Nuan looked at Leng Tian and Leng Yun, their expressions grave. She hadn’t been here long and had only seen them from afar a couple of times while gathering wild vegetables. But Leng Tian and Leng Yun had lived here for many years, running around the village as children. To them, these were familiar faces.
Hearing such news suddenly, it was only natural for them to feel upset.
No one in the main room felt like speaking, the atmosphere heavy and oppressive.
After a long while, Auntie Zhu turned to the two silent children and praised, “Leng Tian has grown so sturdy! His build is no different from a short adult—he could pass for one! Leng Yun has also grown taller and put on some weight.”
This way, the villagers wouldn’t be able to pick on them or call them burdens.
Aunt Jiang also silently observed them in her mind.
The Leng Family really is something. Last year, the whole family was as thin as hemp stalks, but in less than a year, they’ve grown taller and stronger, almost like different people. It’s clear they haven’t skimped on the two younger brothers’ meals!
This sister-in-law is truly beyond reproach.
“Buy more rice and flour to stock up. Even though prices have risen now, if the drought continues, grain prices will likely keep climbing. If your husband changes his mind and decides to leave with us, feel free to come find me!”
“Alright, thank you, Auntie Zhu and Auntie Jiang. I’ll talk to my husband when he gets back.”
After seeing Auntie Zhu and Auntie Jiang off, the three of them fell into a momentary silence.
After a while, Wen Nuan Nuan snapped back to reality and asked anxiously, “Where’s Second Brother? Eldest Brother, have you seen him?”
“No. Refugees have blocked the city gates, and the carriage couldn’t squeeze through. Eldest Brother said he’d find time to go in and look for him.” Leng Tian replied with concern.
The drought had only just begun, yet chaos was already spreading.